For trends this year, Richler says it's all about the vegetable. And no, not the vegetables we're all told to eat, but chefs and restaurants who are experimenting with new ways to cook veggie dishes, and get the same kind of attention as fish or meat.

"It’s good for the waistline, good for the planet — and most important, it agrees with my palate, too," he adds.

But like most Canadian restaurant lists, the same names pop up over and over again, and for the most part, a majority of the best places to eat come from Ontario (read: Toronto) and Quebec (read: Montreal). Last year's list did not include entries from New Brunswick, P.E.I., Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut, however, this year, there are entries from New Brunswick and P.E.I. — but seriously, someone needs to scope out the North for the rest of us.

In fact, in the top 10 this year, Toronto holds six spots (but not number one). Vancouver hosts 16 of the top 100 restaurants, with eight just in the top 50. And last year's 100th entry, Dandylion of Toronto, is this year's number six.

And besides the list, the magazine also called out a few other awards, including influencer of the year chef Daniel Boulud and best new restaurant Alo, a french spot in Toronto.